Hollywood stars lament closure of Cinerama Dome, home to film premieres

Actors and directors are lamenting the closing of Los Angeles’s celebrated Cinerama Dome, a staple for red carpet premieres.

Los Angeles county recently announced that indoor movie theaters can operate at 50% capacity. But amid financial struggles, Pacific Theatres and ArcLight Cinemas said on Monday it will not be reopening its 300 theaters, including the Cinerama Dome, throughout California.

“After shutting our doors more than a year ago, today we must share the difficult and sad news that Pacific will not be reopening its ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres locations,” a statement from the chain’s owner, Decurion, said. “This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company does not have a viable way forward.”

The actor Mindy Kaling tweeted her hopes that someone would step in and save the theaters following the announcement. “We’ve all been on bad dates to the Arclight where you’re watching a Greta Gerwig movie & the guy doesn’t like it bc he knows Greta is more talented than him and also would never date him and you had the realization you can’t date this kind of guy anymore, so SAVE THE ARCLIGHT,” she wrote.

The actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt had fond memories. “I remember going to the Cinerama Dome to see Star Trek IV with my dad when I was little,” he said.

Gina Prince-Bythewood, director of Love & Basketball, said the announcement was “painful”. “The Arclight is my go-to. Clean, great sound, assigned stadium seating, great popcorn, usher movie introductions,” she said.

Rian Johnson, director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, commented: “Every single person who worked at the Arclight loved movies, and you felt it.”

According to Deadline, Hollywood ArcLight was previously among the highest-grossing theaters in the country. The Cinerama Dome opened in 1963 with the premiere of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

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Since then, it has hosted a number of red carpet premieres and has been featured in films such as Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, according to NPR. Deadline reports the theater is “the only concrete geodesic dome on Earth. The theater is made up of 316 individual hexagonal and pentagonal shapes in 16 different sizes. Each of these pieces is roughly 12ft across and weigh around 7,500lb.”

Decurion thanked guests and employees in its statement. “To all the Pacific and ArcLight employees who have devoted their professional lives to making our theaters the very best places in the world to see movies: we are grateful for your service and your dedication to our customers,” the company said.

“To our guests and members of the film industry who have made going to the movies such a magical experience over the years: our deepest thanks. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you.”